Brand Logos and Taglines

'What you see, is what you get!' This idiom has shaped most of our perspectives about the things that we see and want to buy. What comes to your mind when you first look at a brand? Is it the logo or the tagline? What’s the feeling that it evokes? Before we delve into the details of what makes up a brand’s identity, let’s find out which of the below can you identify.

Can you recognize any 3 brands from these images?

How many of these taglines ring a bell?

Each of the above-mentioned brands must have done something right to have made a special place in our minds and hearts for as many years as they have. A Brand’s identity comprises of the visible elements of the brand such as its design and logo, which makes it stand out from the rest. Add to that short phrase that aptly expresses the brand score benefits to its target customers and you have the recipe for success.

Logo – Design and Message

A logo is considered to be a company's first impression, a visual identity so to say, one that can influence a customer's brand perception, purchase decisions, and his overall attitude toward a brand. The purpose of a logo goes far beyond being just a pretty pictorial representation of a brand’s identity. As the heart of the branding efforts of a company, its logo should represent the essence of the company’s personality.

The logo is capable of establishing a good rapport with the potential customers that a company and its business are trying to attract. Whereas an ill-designed logo may fail to communicate not only the brand's message, but it may also end up harming the image and the business of the company.

The first advice any expert graphic designer or logo designer will give you while designing your logo is to ‘keep it simple’. To create an impactful logo, make sure that you know your brand inside out. The logo should have a unique but simple design that effectively conveys the brand’s message. It should be versatile and scalable as well. The colors and fonts used must be in accordance with the brand’s personality.

Don’t worry if your logo fails to make an impression the first time! Even iconic brands like Nike have been known to alter and tailor their logos over the years to meet the needs of the ever-evolving markets and consumers.

Taglines & Slogans

A tagline is a catchy one-liner that evokes an image of your brand in the minds of potential customers. Taglines are dramatic phrases that perfectly encompass the tone and ideology of a brand. How many of you can already smell the burger when you hear the words ‘I’m loving it’?

A slogan on the other hand is often temporary and catering to a specific marketing effort. It incorporates a brand’s mission and what it stands for through the brand’s individual campaigns. One of the most recalled slogans is of old Spice: “The original. If your grandfather hadn’t worn it, you wouldn’t exist.”

The best example that clearly differentiates a tagline from a slogan is of Disneyland.“The happiest place on Earth.” - is one of the catchiest brand taglines in existence, tracing its roots back to the very early days of when the first Disneyland park was opened.

“I’m going to Disneyland.”- this slogan was used in a series of commercials throughout the 1980s in which popular sports figures and celebrities used to announce that they’re going to visit Disneyland right after achieving a milestone.

For creating successful taglines, make sure that the tagline communicates the brand’s beliefs, is memorable, and leaves a positive feeling in the minds of its customers. Marketers suggest that one must think about how the slogan and logo will work together across the brand’s marketing collateral.

If you take these into account when crafting and communicating your brand’s identity, add to that a healthy dose of creativity, you’ll be headed in the right direction. Just be sure to take feedback from your customers, make the necessary changes while learning on the go, and give your customers a chance to like what they see and want it.

Here are some amazing logos and taglines from brands who seem to have mastered this skill, Tell us about the logos and taglines which caught your attention.